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Col (Dr) Adarsh Sharma Building a Life Beyond Work In the race to climb the corporate ladder or promotions in the government sector or hit the next career milestone, we often forget the bigger picture: life is about balance, fulfillment, and joy. Your job may help pay the bills, but your career shouldn’t define your entire existence. If you have been living on autopilot, this is your wake-up call. Let’s explore how to thrive at work while building a meaningful life outside of it. Build Your Home Early – A Foundation for Memories Life isn’t just about making a living; it’s about creating a life. Start building your home as early as possible, whether in a rural or urban area. Let your family enjoy quality time together and create lasting memories in your home while you are younger. Building a home early, whether in the countryside or the city, gives your family a sanctuary to grow, laugh, and create cherished memories. Waiting until after 50 to achieve this robs you and your loved ones of those precious moments. A house isn’t just bricks and mortar-it’s where life unfolds. Prioritize Family Time : Take time away from work. Do not spend all year glued to the office. Remember, you are not indispensable. If something happens to you, the organization will continue without you. Your family should always be priority. You are not the irreplaceable cog you imagine yourself to be at work. If you were to leave-or even pass away-operations would continue without a hiccup. That’s a sobering reality, but it’s also freeing. It means you have permission to prioritize your family, your health, and your happiness. Don’t let work steal the time meant for the people who love you. Forget the Chase for Promotions- Pursue Mastery Instead Focus on Excellence, Not Promotions: Concentrate on mastering your skills and excelling in your work. Promotions will come if they are deserved, but if they don’t, maintain a positive attitude and focus on your personal development. Titles come and go, and promotions are often out of your control. But your skills? Your mastery? That’s yours forever. Focus on becoming excellent at your craft. When opportunities arise, they will find you. If they don’t, you’ll still find joy in knowing you are growing and developing for yourself, not for anyone else’s recognition. Rise Above Gossip – Protect Your Integrity Steer Clear of Gossip: Avoid workplace gossip or activities that could tarnish your reputation. Stay away from conversations or groups that thrive on negativity, especially those that involve criticizing your colleagues or bosses. Gossip is a trap that tarnishes reputations and sours relationships. Instead of falling into negative cliques or backbiting circles, rise above the noise. Focus on your work, build trust, and keep your name clean. Your integrity is one of your greatest assets-guard it fiercely. Don’t Compete unnecessarily, but Collaborate Avoid competing with your bosses-it will only lead to frustration and could backfire. Similarly, constant rivalry with your colleagues will drain you and could lead to stress and unnecessary tension. Focus on your own growth instead. Collaborate, Share knowledge, Celebrate others’ wins. Success isn’t a zero-sum game, and helping others succeed often opens doors for you too. Diversify Your Income: Start a side business – A Lifeline for the future. Cultivate a side business to supplement your salary. Relying solely on your paycheck or salary may not sustain your long-term financial needs. Life gets more expensive over time, and inflation doesn’t wait for your next raise. A side business-no matter how small-can provide financial security, help you develop new skills, and eventually even outgrow your day job. Start now, and your future self will thank you. Save Automatically – Invest Wisely. Saving money can feel like a burden, but automation makes it easy. Deduct a portion of your paycheck before you even see it. Over time, those savings will grow into a safety net, giving you freedom and peace of mind. When borrowing, be strategic-invest in opportunities, not fleeting luxuries. Luxury purchases should come from your profits, not debt. Keep Your Private Life Private Maintain boundaries between your personal life and your work: Keep details about your family, marriage, and personal matters away from your workplace as your family and your personal life are sacred. Keep them separate from your workplace. Sharing too much invites unnecessary scrutiny, judgment, and gossip. Protect your personal world-it’s your safe haven. Be Loyal to Yourself, Not Just Your Job Believe in your work and remain true to your values: Loyalty is admirable, but blind loyalty can be dangerous. Prioritize your well-being and career growth over appeasing bosses or clinging to a job that no longer serves you. Hanging around your boss to curry favor might alienate colleagues and backfire if your boss moves on. Focus on building a reputation for hard work and integrity instead. Loyalty and integrity towards the Organization or workplace will be more admirable and self satisfying than appeasements or buttering. Plan for an Early Retirement – Exit with Purpose Retirement isn’t just the end of your career; It’s the beginning of your freedom. Start planning the day you sign your employment contract. Set a goal to retire by 50, or even earlier, so you can enjoy life on your own terms while you are still healthy and energetic. Freedom comes to those who prepare for it. Use Leave Days Wisely-Invest in Your Future Your leave days are not just for rest-they are for renewal use them to work on personal projects, your side business, or your dream home. What you do with this time reflects the life you’ll lead after retirement. Build habits today that will sustain you tomorrow. How you spend this time often reflects how you’ll live after retirement. Be Active in Welfare Groups-A Community Safety Net Workplace welfare groups are not just social clubs-they are lifelines. Whether it’s financial support during emergencies or emotional support during tough times, these groups create a community you can lean on. Participate actively, and you will build lasting connections and security. Participate in Work Welfare Programs Join your workplace’s welfare programs and stay actively involved. These programs can be invaluable during unexpected challenges. Develop a strong network of welfare groups or connections Create a strong network of connections & bonding in society apart from your work place. Use these relationships for mutual support, collaboration, and sharing opportunities. Help others whenever you are in a position to do so. Remember, your position of power may not last forever, but the meaningful bonds and relationships you create will remain with you throughout your life. Believe in Yourself-You Are Your Greatest Asset At the end of the day, your success isn’t about who likes you or what titles you hold. It’s about how much you trust yourself and your work. Build a career you’re proud of, but never forget: your greatest loyalty is to yourself and the life you’re building outside the office. Life is too short to be consumed by work. Build a foundation for your dreams, nurture your relationships, and plan for the future today. Remember: your job is what you do, not who you are. Prioritize what truly matters, and the life you create will be your greatest achievement.
Sambhal Violence: 20 detained, internet suspended after Islamists indulge in violence and arson during mosque survey
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Matus Hronsky's 13 points off of the bench helped Duquesne to a 67-54 victory over Old Dominion on Tuesday. Hronsky shot 5 for 9, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Dukes (1-6). Maximus Edwards scored 11 points while going 5 of 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and added seven rebounds. Halil Barre had 10 points and finished 5 of 7 from the floor. The Dukes stopped a six-game slide with the win. Devin Ceaser led the way for the Monarchs (2-6) with 23 points and three steals. Duquesne took a 26-19 lead at halftime, with Edwards racking up seven points. Duquesne extended its lead to 36-23 during the second half, fueled by an 8-0 scoring run. Hronsky scored a team-high 10 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .ATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Opening statements in the trial for six of those defendants happened a year ago . Four of them, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty last month. The rapper was freed on probation. Stillwell and Kendrick rejected plea deals after more than a week of negotiations, and their lawyers chose not to present evidence or witnesses. Both seemed to be in good spirits Tuesday morning after closings wrapped the previous night. Kendrick was chatting and laughing with Stillwell and his lawyers before the jury arrived for instructions. The jury started deliberating Tuesday afternoon and was dismissed at 5 p.m. Jurors are expected to resume deliberations Wednesday morning. If they don’t reach a verdict by 3 p.m. Wednesday, the judge will send them home for the Thanksgiving weekend and they will return Monday morning. Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors painted Stillwell and Kendrick as members of a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, co-founded in 2012 by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. During closings on Monday, they pointed to tattoos, song lyrics and social media posts they said proved members, including Stillwell, admitted to killing people in rival gangs. Prosecutors say Thomas was in a rival gang. Stillwell was also charged in the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors said was in retaliation for the killing of two YSL associates days earlier. Defense attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt said the state presented unreliable witnesses, weak evidence and cherry-picked lyrics and social media posts to push a false narrative about Stillwell, Kendrick and the members of YSL. Schardt, Stillwell's attorney, reminded the jury that alleged YSL affiliates said during the trial that they had lied to police. Law enforcement played a “sick game” by promising they would escape long prison sentences if they said what police wanted them to say, Schardt said. He theorized that one of those witnesses could have killed Thomas. The truth is that their clients were just trying to escape poverty through music, Schardt said. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Young Thug’s record label is also known as YSL, an acronym of Young Stoner Life. Kendrick was featured on two popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial" and “Slatty," which prosecutors presented as evidence in the trial. Weinstein, Kendrick’s defense attorney, said during closings it was wrong for prosecutors to target the defendants for their music and lyrics. Prosecutor Simone Hylton disagreed, and said surveillance footage and phone evidence supported her case. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” Hylton said. The trial had more than its fair share of delays. Jury selection took nearly 10 months , and Stillwell was stabbed last year at the Fulton County jail, which paused trial proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July because he had a meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Whitaker often lost patience with prosecutors over moves such as not sharing evidence with defense attorneys, once accusing them of “poor lawyering.” But the trial sped up under her watch. In October, four defendants, including Young Thug , pleaded guilty, with the rapper entering a non-negotiated or “blind” plea, meaning he didn't have a deal worked out with prosecutors. Nine people charged in the indictment, including rapper Gunna , accepted plea deals before the trial began. Charges against 12 others are pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon Charlotte Kramon, The Associated Press
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Happy Birthday for Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024: You spirited, versatile and intelligent. Your sense of adventure takes you to new places. You’re also down to earth. This is a year of learning and teaching. It’s also time to renew your spiritual or religious beliefs. Explore meditation, yoga or philosophies that help you get a better self-awareness. The stars show the kind of day you’ll have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult ARIES (March 21-April 19)  Today you have a wonderful, positive outlook on life! Furthermore, you’re finding it easy to see the big picture. Meanwhile, this is a good day to focus on gratitude. It’s also a wonderful day to focus on future success! Share your joy with others. Live it up! Tonight: Learn! TAURUS (April 20-May 20)  You are the financial wizard of the zodiac, and today the moon is in your Money House lined up with lucky, moneybags Jupiter. This is good news! By all means, look for ways to boost your income. Gifts, goodies and favors from others might come your way. Tonight: Check your finances. GEMINI (May 21-June 20)  Today the moon is in your sign lined up with Jupiter. This is favorable! This is why you feel warm and openhearted to others. In particular, you will enjoy practicing kindness and being generous to others. It makes you feel good. Plus, what goes around, comes around. Tonight: Partnerships. CANCER (June 21-July 22)  Today it’s easy for you to feel fortunate and appreciative. You’re happy to be in your own skin. These positive feelings might encourage you to explore mystical ideas or information about spirituality or religion. You want to connect with your higher aspirations. Tonight: Boost your health. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)  This is a fabulous day to schmooze with friends and to interact with clubs, groups and organizations, because you’re enthusiastic and positive-minded! Your energy will attract others to you, which will make you feel successful. In fact, this is a great day to set some goals. Tonight: Socialize! VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)  You look fabulous in the eyes of others today! People see you as successful, generous, broad-minded and wise. (Go with the flow and don’t do anything to ruin this great press.) People might ask for your approval or advice. Tonight: Home and family. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)  This is a wonderful day to travel or do something to get a change of scenery. If you can’t travel, then be a tourist in your own neighborhood. You will also love to learn something new. You might like to study. You might talk to people from different backgrounds and other cultures. It’s a good day for legal and medical matters. Tonight: Conversations. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)  Keep your pockets open, because the universe will favor you today. You’ll be laughing all the way to the bank. However, this is also a good day to be generous to others. You will feel a sense of warm satisfaction and increased self-respect. Tonight: Money ideas. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)  Relations with partners, spouses and even members of the general public will be warm and friendly today, which is why you will enjoy socializing with others, including group activities. Very likely, someone will inspire or uplift you. Tonight: You shine. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)  Work-related travel will be on the books for some of you today. You’ll be pleased to do anything that widens your world and expands your knowledge. Work with groups today to be the most productive! Tonight: Privacy. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)  Accept all invitations to socialize today. You’ll have fun! It’s a great day for sports events, the theater, anything to do with the hospitality industry, plus playful activities with children. You will find it rewarding to spread joy to others. Tonight: Old friends. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)  This is a great day to entertain at home. Invite the gang over for good food and drink. Any gathering at your home will be a successful, upbeat event! By extension, this can also be a profitable and favorable day for real estate. Tonight: You’re admired. — King Features Syndicate
NoneAP Business SummaryBrief at 2:22 p.m. ESTStaff reporter An artificial intelligence educational base co-created by mainland technology giant Baidu and Hong Kong Qianfan Technology will open next year at Cyberport, which will help to enhance Hong Kong teenagers' "soft power," says Karson Choi Ka-tsan, chairman of Qianfan Technology and Sing Tao News Corp chairman. At the launch ceremony at Cyberport on Friday, Choi said the Baidu AI Cloud Innovation Centre and educational base hopes to offer training to society, especially younger generations. "The base has invited a Baidu research team to engage in a series of lively teaching and training programs to grow the concept of AI in the minds of younger generations and to help Hong Kong nurture innovation talent," Choi said. He added that as more young people learn about AI, IT-related knowledge and skills, this will be crucial for Hong Kong's development into an international innovation center and smart city. "We are also honored to have the University of Hong Kong as the first higher education institute to sign a cooperation agreement with the educational base, enhancing Hong Kong youngsters' soft power and competitiveness together," Choi said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he welcomes efforts by different sectors of society to inject new vigor in the city's AI technology development, for which he had launched a series of policies in his policy address last month, including setting up a HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund and optimizing the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund. He also said the Baidu AI Cloud Innovation Centre was among the new batch of strategic enterprises to establish or expand business in Hong Kong this month. "This collaboration is inter-sector and inter-regional: Hong Kong Qianfan Technology is responsible for investment and daily operations while Beijing's Baidu will be responsible for software and hardware construction technology-wise as well as deploying staff [to the base] for training and technical support," he said. "These are in line with [the government's] goal of developing Hong Kong into an international high-end talent hub, contributing further to the country's high-quality development." The launch ceremony was also attended by Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin and Shen Dou, Baidu's executive president and chief of Baidu AI Cloud. Shen hopes to utilize Baidu's profound accumulation of experience in the field of AI, combined with Cyberport's unique position and rich resources, to build an AI technology ecosystem based in Hong Kong with the potential to expand into the Asia-Pacific region, reinforcing the city's position as an international IT hub. The educational base, which opens next year and spans over 1,800 square meters, will offer theoretical and practical courses for local tertiary institution students and showcase cutting-edge AI applications. It is expected to benefit more than 1,000 Hong Kong students annually. Also during the ceremony, HKU associate vice president Pauline Chiu signed a cooperation agreement with Qianfan Technology directors William Shum Wai-lam and Rachel Chan. Beginning with HKU as its first partner institute, the base will host lectures on AI foundation knowledge - a total of five courses annually. It will also arrange field trips to the mainland highlighting AI industry trends as well as invite top mainland AI professionals and academics to hold seminars and talks.Recently, a significant shift has occurred within the App Store’s utility category, where Phantom, a crypto wallet designed for decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has surpassed Google Chrome to take the second spot in the United States’ rankings. Phantom’s ascent is not just a triumph for the application itself but also a clear indicator of the growing mainstream interest in Web3 technologies. As a non-custodial wallet, Phantom offers users full control over their keys, which resonates with the ethos of decentralization that is central to the crypto community. The wallet’s integration with the Solana ecosystem and its support for various networks and NFTs have contributed to its rising popularity. This remarkable achievement comes amidst a surge in decentralized applications (DApps) on the Solana blockchain, which has seen record fee generation. Protocols like Jito and Raydium have reported substantial fees, highlighting the vibrant activity within the Solana ecosystem. Phantom’s user-centric approach, including a fraud detection system and compatibility with Ledger hardware wallets, has undoubtedly played a role in its success. Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025 ) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts. Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here. Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and i nvest in Africa’s finest startups here . Phantom distinguishes itself with a focus on security and user experience. It supports Solana-based tokens and provides a seamless interface for managing NFTs and DeFi applications. One of the key advantages of Phantom is its mobile and browser extension availability, offering convenience for users on-the-go. SolFlare , similar to Phantom, offers strong security and an intuitive design. It is also available as a mobile and browser extension wallet, targeting both beginner and intermediate users. When it comes to user interface, both Phantom and SolFlare provide a modern and intuitive design, while Sollet’s browser extension approach caters to a more advanced audience, including developers. In terms of token support, Phantom and SolFlare are limited to Solana-based tokens, whereas Sollet supports both Solana and Ethereum tokens. SolFlare’s integration with the Solrise Investment Platform and direct integration with Serum DEX are notable features that appeal to users looking for more than just a wallet. However, the journey has not been without challenges. Phantom recently navigated a technical hiccup with an iOS update that temporarily locked some users out of their wallets. The swift response and resolution of this issue underscore the wallet’s commitment to its user base. Phantom’s rise in the App Store is a testament to the potential of Web3 technologies to reshape the financial landscape. It signals a pivotal moment for decentralized technologies as they penetrate broader consumer markets, offering a glimpse into a future where digital asset management is accessible, secure, and in the hands of the user. As we witness this shift, it’s essential to recognize the implications for the broader tech industry. The success of Phantom and the increasing interest in DApps suggest a growing consumer demand for more control over personal data and finances, a trend that could redefine the role of traditional tech giants and financial institutions. The story of Phantom’s rise is not just about an app’s ranking but about the changing tides in technology and finance. It’s a narrative about innovation, user empowerment, and the relentless pursuit of a decentralized future. As we continue to monitor the evolution of the App Store and the crypto space, one thing is certain: the landscape is changing, and Phantom is at the forefront of this transformation.
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